Loom let-off



NOV; 24, 1959 s. N R N ET AL LOOM LET-OFF Filed July 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WIBM TLTWTWTT :.lhmfiii INVENTOR.

WALTER J. BUDZYNH GORDON SAuozasou 22 4 KQ M AT TORNEY NOV. 24, 1959 s, ANDERSQN ET AL 2,914,093

"LOOM LET-OFF 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2, 1956 WALTER J. BUDZYNA GORDON S. QNDERSON A TTORNEY 2,914,093 ooM LET-OFF Gordon S. Anderson, Framingham, and Walter J. Budzyna, East Douglas, Mass., assignors to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of, Maine Application July 2, 1956, Serial No. 595,292

8 Claims. (Cl. 139-110) This invention relates to loom let-offs and more particularly to that part of a let-off mechanism by which the beam may be advanced or reversely rotated manually.

It is a general object of the invention to devise a letoif of automatic type in which a hand-wheel may be used at any time to rotate the warp ahead or backwardly without interference due to the ratcheting means and without influence due to the brake although'the latter is not released.

A more specific object is that of accomplishing the desired objective above mentionedin a simple let-off of the type in which the beam is automatically advanced as warp is required for weaving, by means employing a constantly operating ratcheting means, gearing and a retarding brake.

In loom let-offs it is frequently the practice to ad- Vance a warp beam by positively driven means against a retarding brake and While controlling thelet-oif output in accordance with warp yarn tension and other factors. Such let-offs may comprise a ratcheting means from which gearing is rotated, the latter being connected to drive the beam. The brake is commonly applied to a drum on one of the driven shafts and must exert enough retarding influence so that the warp tension alone can never result in rotating the warp beam. The latter function can occur only when the ratcheting means rotates the beam through the gearing and against the brake which then slips.

A hand wheel is usually provided to rotate the beam manually to take up or release tension and is directly connected to a shaft in the gear train, but since the shaft to which the hand wheel is fixed is usually the same one upon which the brake is effective,'its use is practical only when the brake is released. The bands or shoes are for that reason provided with a hand clamp or release by which they may be tensioned against their drum or disengaged to have no efiect upon it. That is an extra step involved each time the hand control of the warp is attempted, and after it, the weaver must be careful to reengage the brake before starting the loom.

According to the instant invention a warp let-off of effective design is provided for hand operation as desired Without releasing the brake and without the ratcheting means or the brake affecting the manual rotation of the beam which is very easily accomplished through the reduction gearing with only a small effort at the wheel. In

practice power is conveyed through the hand wheel to the gearing and beam. At manual operation that wheel is disengaged from the ratcheting drive by displacing it axially and then when manual adjustment has been completed, the wheel is released to be spring pressed to normal position to play its part in the automatic let-off of the warp.

The invention will be described in the following more detailed disclosure by reference to one specific embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part of a loom showing a let-0E embodying the invention applied thereto.

Patented Nov. 24, 1959 ice illustrated to show a take-up to which the invention is applied. Mounted on a loomside 10, is a bracket 11 and casing 12 with cover 13 within which a horiozntal shaft 14 is borne, this shaft also having an inner bearing support at 15 in bracket 16 at the inside face of the loomside. Shaft 14 has a pinion 17 fixed at its inner end and this pinion meshes with gear 18 at the flange 19 of a beam on which warp threads are wound.

Shaft 14 has a sliding key or spline engagement with a worm gear 20. Axial position of the shaft is maintained by locking it to the hub 21 of the worm gear which projects through the cover 13; the hub is provided with a set screw 22 by which the shaft may be locked to or released from it to be moved axially. When released, the shaft and pinion may be partially withdrawn outwardly to facilitate the removal or entry of a beam. The shaft may be pushed in to mesh pinion 17 with gear 18, the set screw tightened in place and the take-up will then be engaged for action.

The beam is carried in end bearing members 23 which form a part of brackets 24 that are adjustably attached to the loomsides as shown in Fig. l. v

Now, with reference more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, a vertical shaft 25 is borne in bearings 26 and 27 in casing 12 and has a worm 28 keyed and set screwed or otherwise fixed to it for meshing with wheel 20. The drive for this worm is through a ratcheting means to be described and at this point it should be noted that while there are several parts carried rotatably upon the upper end of the shaft above casing 12, only one of these, a hand wheel 29, is fixed for rotation with the shaft.

Reverting to Figs. 1 and 2, a lever 30 pivoted at 31 has a depending arm 32 to which is connected a link 33. An extending arm 34 of arcuate form carries a roller or other follower 35 which engages upon 'a cam 36 fixed to rotate with a gear 37 both of which are keyed to a shaft 38 rotatable in a bracket 39.

Cam 36 is rotated from any suitable movable part of the loom, here from a gear 40 mounted at the end of a cam shaft 41. Lever 30 as affected by cam 36 acts through link 33 to ratchet shaft 25 in a manner to be explained. The stroke of the lever is governed by tension in the warp sheet through a whip roll 42 pivoted in arms 43. Th downward pull of the warp on the roll is resisted by certain spring means (not shown) a more detailed description of which may be found in United States Patent 2,535,515.

Depending arm 44 connects by a link 45 to the upper arm 46 of lever 30 and may affect that arm by a collar 47 adjustably set screwed to the end of the link 45 to bear against a rounded part 48 of the forked end of the arm through which the link passes. A spring 49 on the link is held under compression by a second collar 50 and forces the lever arm end into intimate contact with collar 47. v

The whip roll oscillates periodically but its median plane of vibration may also move one way or another as warp tension varies thus swinging arm 44 and varying the position of link 45 and collar 47. The latter holds the lever 30 and follower 35 in a position such that they may be affected to a greater or lesser extent by the cam 36. As tension increases the whip roll is pulled down slightly to permit a greater stroke of arm 30 and as tension in the warp becomes less, the opposite takes place.

Shaft 25 carries several parts which will now be explained. A sleeve 51 is freely rotatable on the shaft, but has 'lteyed to its upper end a collar 52 with teeth 53 of the shape shown. These teeth engage similar teeth 54 at the lower end of hub 55 of hand wheel 29. These teeth engage when hand wheel 29 is in the position of Fig. 3 and sleeve 51 will then drive the shaft and worm 28 through the hand wheel. The latter is movable along the shaft for a limited extent since the keys 56 and 57 held in the shaft end but are slidable in keyways in the hub 55. A spring 58 set in a recess in the hub and held by a snap ring at the shaft end normally maintains the hand wheel with teeth in driving engagement, but permits it to be raised as in Fig. 4 for a purpose to be described.

, At its lower end the sleeve 51 has keyed to it a brake drum 59. This latter is affected by shoes 60 and 61, hinged at 62, Fig. Shoe 60 has a notched lug 63 extending as shown to engage an anchor pin 64 fixed in casing 12.

The shoes terminate in lugs 65 and 66 drilled for the reception of an eye bolt 67. This bolt has a nut 68 at its threaded end for applying a pressure against lug 65 through a spring 69. A second and weaker spring 70 between the lugs tends to open the shoes when they are released.

To release the shoes from holding drum 59 a clamp 71 is pinned to the eye of the bolt 67. In one position a flat side at a short distance from the pin 72 acts as a bolt head to bear against lug 66, while in the opposite position, 90 removed, a side of the clamp at a considerably greater distance from that pin acts to shorten the effective length of the bolt, compress spring 69 and to apply braking pressure of the shoes against the drum. While the shoes are disengageable as described, this function is provided only for extreme cases and not for general use whenever manual rotation of the beam is desired.

A hub 73 having a bushing 74 is rotatable on sleeve 51 and also within a eounterbore in the top of drum 59. It is adapted to be oscillated by the link 33 which connects at 75 to a short arm or lug 76, preferably an integral part of the hub. The oscillating motion of this hub is imparted to the sleeve through a one way clutch so disposed as to advance the sleeve, hand wheel shaft, worm and worm gear in a direction to let off warp. Reverse movements merely serve to effect another engagement of the clutch.

The one way clutch may be in the form of a cam clutch generally indicated by numeral '77.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, a modified form of hand wheel will be described. According to the previously disclosed form, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the wheel is held in engagement by the spring except as it may be raised to turn the beam manually. The opposite is true of the Fig. 6 structure illustrated here in that a wheel 78 with hub 79 is slidably keyed to shaft 25 and is urged in an upward direction by a spring 80. Thus the teeth 81 at the lower hub end would be freed from their companion teeth at sleeve 51.

A cam latch 82 having an actuating finger 83 is pivoted at $4 to the end of the shaft 25 and when in the position here shown, locks the wheel downwardly against the spring to a tooth engaging and thus a driving position. As. it is desired to free the drive and to use the hand wheel, finger 83 is lifted whereupon the wheel rises to a position corresponding to that of the wheel in Fig. 4. When the automatic take-up function is to be resumed, the finger is pushed downwardly to locked position.

In operation. the brake shoes are adjusted to hold against any possible drawing off of warp, but, of course, the rotation of the gearing can be effected by the ratcheting means against the brake. This normal action continues being slightly varied faster or slower according to the warp tension, and, of course, varying with the effective beam diameter.

:If it becomes desirable to slacken the warp or to tension it manually, the weaver has only to raise the hand wheel against spring 58 and to turn it in the appropriate direction. Since the wheel is directly attached to worm shaft 25 and since, when raised, there is no connection at all between the ratcheting and braking members and the shaft, the beam is easily turned. This may be done while the loom is running or stopped as the hub 73 will merely oscillate and turn sleeve 51 and collar 52 idly.

As soon as the hand wheel is released or forced down as the case may be, it immediately engages its teeth with those of the collar and, if the loom is running or started, the let-01f action is immediately picked up and continued.

Thus, a very convenient and elfective hand wheel control is provided which is imemdiately available for effective use without the necessity of releasing a brake and of resetting it after each use of the manual control.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. For a loom having a warp beam from which warp threads are drawn, a let-off for advancing the beam which comprises reduction gearing including a worm and worm wheel, a shaft to which said worm is fixed, a means for rotating said shaft and worm which comprises a sleeve freely rotatable on the shaft, a ratcheting means for periodically rotating saidsleeve, a brake for retarding the rotation thereof and means by which the oscillations of the ratcheting means and sleeve may be imparted to the shaft and worm which includes a hand wheel axially movable with respect to said shaft but fixed for rotation therewith and selectively engageable with said sleeve to be driven by it and disengageable therefrom to rotate the gearing independently of the ratcheting means and brake.

2. Mechanism as denfied in claim 1 wherein said hand wheel and sleeve are provided with interengaging driving teeth.

3. Mechanism as denfied in claim 1 wherein said hand wheel and sleeve are provided with interengaging driving teeth and the hand wheel is further slidably keyed to the shaft.

4. Mechanism as defined in claim 3 further characterized by spring means for urging the hand wheel to a position in which said driving teeth are engaged.

5. For a loom having a warp beam from which warp threads are drawn, a let-off for advancing the beam which comprises reduction gearing including a worm and worm wheel, a shaft to which said worm is fixed, a means for rotating said shaft and worm which comprises a sleeve freely rotatable on the shaft and provided with teeth at one of its end extremities, a ratcheting means for periodically rotating said sleeve and operatively connected thereto, brake means for retarding the rotation of said sleeve and including a brake drum fast to the sleeve, and means by which the oscillations of the ratcheting means and sleeve may be imparted to the shaft and worm which includes a two-position shiftable hand wheel adjoining the toothed end of said sleeve and being provided with teeth interengageable with the teeth of said sleeve, said hand wheel being at all times in operative driving connection with said shaft to rotate the same but also being movable axially along said shaft for a limited extent into one or the other position to effect either interengagement or disengagement respectively of the hand wheel teeth with the teeth of said sleeve to rotate the gearingand said warp beam directly by said ratcheting means under the influence of said brake or to enable rotation manually of said gearing and the warp beam directly and solely by said hand wheel and shaft independently of and free from influence by said ratcheting means and the brake when said hand wheel is disconnected from said sleeve.

6. For a loom having a warp beam from which warp threads are drawn, a let-off for advancing the beam which comprises reduction gearing including a worm and worm wheel, an upright drive shaft to which said worm is fixed and by which it is rotated, a means for totating said shaft and worm member therewith which comprises a sleeve freely rotatable on said shaft, a ratcheting means operatively arranged for periodically rotating said sleeve on said shaft, a brake device for retarding the rotation of said sleeve and including a brake drum aifixed to the sleeve, and means by which the oscillations of the ratcheting means and the sleeve rotated thereby may be imparted to the shaft and worm which includes a hand wheel axially displaceable for a limited extent on said shaft into two positions thereon but having operative driving connection therewith at all times and being selectively engageable directly to said sleeve to be driven I by it to rotate the shaft and gearing against the retarding influence of said brake device and disengageable from said sleeve to disconnect the hand wheel from said ratcheting means and permit rotation manually of the warp beam by the hand wheel and shaft directly through said gearing independently of and uninfluenced by said ratcheting means and brake.

7. For a loom having a warp beam from which threads are drawn, a let-off for advancing the beam which comprises reduction gearing including a worm and worm wheel, a shaft to which said worm is fixed, means for rotating said shaft and worm which comprises a sleeve freely rotatable on the shaft, means for rotating said sleeve, a brake for retarding the rotation thereof, and means by which the motion of said rotating means and sleeve may be imparted to the shaft and worm which includes a hand wheel axially movable with respect to said shaft but fixed for rotation therewith and selectively engageable with said sleeve to be driven by it and disengageable therefrom to rotate the gearing independently of the sleeve rotating means and brake.

8. For a loom having a warp beam from which threads are drawn, a let-off for advancing the beam which comprises reduction gearing including a worm and worm wheel, a shaft to which said worm is fixed, means for rotating said shaft and worm which comprises a sleeve freely rotatable on the shaft, means for rotating said sleeve, and means by which the motion of said rotating means and sleeve may be imparted to the shaft and worm which includes a hand wheel axially movable with respect to said shaft but fixed for rotation therewith and selectively engageable with said sleeve to be driven by it and disengageable therefrom to rotate the gearing independently of the sleeve rotating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 590,001 Cockerille Sept. 14, 1897 1,643,417 Payne Sept. 27, 1927 1,790,016 Northrop Jan. 27, 1931 2,508,810 Bergstrom May 23, 1950 2,741,272 Tosches Apr. 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 826 Great Britain of 1887 

